1.4 million jobs are “indirectly” supported by the recycling and reuse industry
Annual payroll of about $52 billion
Spending by employees of the recycling and reuse industry leads to another 1.5 million jobs
Together the businesses employ 1.1 million people
Generate an annual payroll of $37 billion
Overall, there use industry employs nearly 170,000 workers in more than 26,000 establishments nationwide
Annual payroll of about $2.7 billion
In addition, the recycling and reuse industry generated about $12.9 billion in federal, state and local taxes.
Recycling helps businesses, other organizations and communities avoid disposal costs associated with landfills and incinerators
This is particularly true if communities consider the “full cost” of solid waste disposal and account for the environmental and other negative impacts of waste generation.
Recycling also stimulates the development of green technology.
Recycling allows for and encourages the development of more environmentally friendly products.
More and more local communities – large and small – are demonstrating that recycling and reuse programs can be cost-competitive with disposal options
Four major manufacturing industries account for more than half of the industry: paper mills, steel mills, plastics converters and iron and steel foundries.
Recycling and reuse are competitive with other industries
"Economic Benefits of Recycling." DHEC’s Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling FYI. DHEC’s Office of Solid Waste Reduction and Recycling, Web. 16 Dec 2010. <http://www.scdhec.gov/environment/lwm/recycle/pubs/economic_benefits_of_recycling.pdf>.